When choosing a garden cart, the first question you need to ask yourself is, “What am I going to be moving and how far am I going to move it?”

There is a large range in both build quality and cost between carts that are designed to hold under 500 pounds and carts that are designed to hold over 1,000 pounds. The last thing you want to do is overpay for a cart that you will never use to its maximum potential.

Heavier-duty carts will have thicker and larger tires, as well as a more solid frame. These carts will be much heavier than those designed to carry smaller loads, so you don’t want to get one unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you do need a larger capacity cart, make sure it has removable sides for easy access.

If you go with a smaller garden cart, look for a cart bed that is deep and wide. You’ll also want one with sides so that nothing falls out of the cart.

Types of Tires

Carts designed to hold light loads will come with plastic tires. Some plastic tires have tread and some do not. If you’re going to use your cart in your yard on grass or other soft surfaces, you can get away with plastic tires. The plus side of these, aside from their light weight, is that they will not pop or get punctured.

Heavier-duty garden carts will come with pneumatic tires. These tires are made of rubber and filled with air, much like a standard car tire. They are necessary if you are going to haul your garden cart over rocky or bumpy terrain, or if you are hauling heavy loads.

Bed Material

The most durable material for garden cart beds is steel. You can use steel beds for years without damaging them at all. However, they are also heavy, can rust, and can also be discolored or damaged by acidic substances like compost.

The next step down and quality is polyethylene. These are both dent and scratch resistant like steel, but weigh less and fare better in rainy weather.

The lowest quality material is plastic. It’s extremely light, which makes it easy to pull. However, it can be damaged by the sun over time, resulting in cracking. If you take good care of a plastic bed you can prevent this cracking. Keeping a plastic garden cart in the shade when not in use is one of the best ways to preserve it.

Your Strength

It seems silly to say, but one of the most important factors in choosing a garden cart is your own strength and ability. You should choose a heavy duty cart not only because you need it, but because you have the strength to operate it over the long-term.

Make sure you’re not buying a cart and loading it up with so much weight that you cannot even use it yourself!

If you absolutely need a higher capacity garden cart, but cannot operate it well, you should opt for one that connects to a pull behind tractor or quad. If you don’t have a tractor or quad, you’ll have to use a lighter capacity garden cart and make multiple trips.

Trust me, your body will thank you!

Photo Gallery of the The Best Garden Carts: Choosing the Right Cart For You

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